St Mary’s Church Tufton Hampshire

St Mary’s Church Tufton

St Mary's Church Tufton

St Mary’s Church Tufton

The 12th century church of St Mary’s Tufton stands on its own with just the manor house and farm to accompany it. It consists of just a nave and a chancel with a stunted bell tower and there are some suggestions that some of the architecture could be transitional Saxon Norman. The south side doorway, although having no long quoins, is very tall and narrow, suggesting an earlier period.  The chancel arch is Norman with little decoration, above can be seen the remnants of wall paintings.

St Mary's Church Tufton

St Mary’s Church Tufton

The font, although difficult to date, is a long tub with a rope decoration part way up and is similar to the font seen at Corhampton. There are two small early Norman windows on the north wall. A wall painting of St Christopher dates to the 15th century, there is a helpful picture to act as a guide as to what it looked like when freshly painted. The Norman lancet windows are set to either side.

St Mary's Church Tufton

Tub Font

The simplicity of the church is what appeals, the chancel was added in the 13th century and despite a little later tampering, little has been added since.

St Mary's church Tufton

Wall painting of St Christopher Tufton